Description By allowing users to easily access a variety of applications such as social networks and messaging services, devices such as personal computers (PCs) and smartphones have the potential to produce new habits, i.e., habitual usage sessions consistently associated with explicit contextual cues. Despite there is evidence that habitual technology use is perceived as meaningless and potentially addictive, little is known about what such habits are and how to detect them, especially in multi-device settings.

The goal of the thesis is to explore the habit-forming nature of living in a multi-device environment, by proposing new techniques for detecting and effectively handling digital "habits" that involve multiple devices daily used by users. Understanding and discovering such habits may have different practical applications, e.g., to develop technologies that mitigate "bad habits" and promote a more conscious use of digital devices.

In details, a possible work plan for the thesis is:
a) to define, in a rigorous way, what does it means “habit” in a multi-device setting. Different strategies may be adopted in this phase, ranging from a literature analysis to focus groups with end users.
b) to develop some software tools to detect and collect such digital habits, by proposing to the user possible tools and methods to mitigate or avoid the most "negative" habits.
c) to evaluate the developed tools with an in-the-wild user study.

The outcome of the work, if satisfying and appropriate, will be made freely available as an Open Source project.